The 27-year-old is the interim middleweight champion in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).

But he also won the men’s under 97 kilogram division at the Australian National Selection Competition last year and is set to become the first UFC champion to compete at the Commonwealth Games.

"To represent your country and to wear the green and gold is such an honour," Whittaker said.

"I am looking forward to competing at a home Commonwealth Games in front of a home crowd."

Whittaker is expected to make his first UFC middleweight defence soon after the Commonwealth Games. 

The multi-sport star has also faced a severe bout of chickenpox and a life-threatening stomach infection in the last month.

He will be joined by three other Commonwealth Games debutants in Naomi de Bruin, in the women's under 76kg event, Tom Cicchini, in the men's under 57kg, and Connor Evans, at under 76kg for men.

De Bruin is a former international judo competitor.

The Australian team includes four athletes who competed at Glasgow 2014.

Rupindar Kaur will contest the women's under 50kg division and Carissa Holland the under 53kg category, 

Mehrdad Tarash and Jayden Lawrence complete the lineup in the respective men's under 65 and under 86kg events.

The Games are scheduled to be held from April 4 to 15, with wrestling taking place from April 12 to 14 at the Carrara Sports and Leisure Centre.